Spiritual Health Practitioner

Article Flag: Mandatory Vaccination Please Note:
As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Spiritual Health and Pastoral Care (SHPC), the Spiritual Health Practitioner works in collaboration with the interdisciplinary teams on assigned clinical units. The Practitioner’s role is to assess spiritual needs and provide comprehensive spiritual care and emotional support to patients, families and health care staff in a manner that is appropriate to belief systems and cultural diversity.

Position attends and participates in program based care team meetings and collaborates with spiritual/cultural representatives and clergy in the community. Provides spiritual and emotional support to staff during times of crisis, mentors and supports volunteer visitors who provide ministry to patients/residents and provides support as a preceptor to Clinical Psycho-Spiritual Education students. Supports patients, residents and their families who are considering or who are engaged in the MAiD process. Participates in sharing on-call and/or back-up on-call duties, as required and is available to respond to organizational emergencies.

Qualifications / Skills and Education:
Education, Training and Experience

A relevant Master’s degree in Theology, Public and Pastoral Leadership, Spiritual Practices or other relevant theological/spiritual studies from an accredited theological institution and minimum of one advanced unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), preferably two advanced units, plus two years of direct or related experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner with CASC/ACSS or committed to achieving certification within two years are part of the employment expectations.

Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated ability to engage counselling theories, interventions, and intentional supportive activities to support patients, residents, and their families, and the ability to quickly identify the appropriate spiritual health practice in order to meet expressed or unexpressed needs
- Demonstrated ability to engage in crisis intervention as required, such as attending Code Blues or other critical incidents
- Ability to navigate electronic medical record (Cerner), pagers, and other communication channels.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to support all expressions of spirituality without imposing personal religious beliefs.
- Demonstrated ability to approach spiritual health issues in a person-centered manner with insight, discernment and flexibility.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively handle stressful situations with sensitivity, compassion, gentleness, caring and approachability.
- Demonstrated ability to work in accordance with Providence Health Care’s Mission, Vision and Values.
- Demonstrated ability to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to work flexible hours.
- Ability to organize and prioritize work and activities.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities:
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assesses, and provides comprehensive spiritual and emotional support through counseling and supportive presence at times of anxiety, loss, death, and other spiritual and existential distress, to inspire strength, courage and hope to patients/residents/families according to their stated beliefs and practices.

2. Promotes the on-going spiritual well-being of patients/residents through listening, prayer and group support such as Memorial Services, spirituality groups, Study of Sacred text and Hymn Sing.

3. Attends and participates in program based care team meetings, rounds, huddles, case conferences, family meetings, ethics consults, and other meetings as required.

4. Receives referrals from all disciplines and responds in a timely manner. Creates and implements follow up plans as required. Makes referrals to other disciplines, when appropriate, based on the needs of patients and residents.

5. Consistently documents in patient/resident medical records where spiritual assessments and significant interventions are recorded to ensure other members of the interdisciplinary care team are properly informed.

6. Collaborates with spiritual/cultural representatives and clergy in the community, when requested by patients and residents and supports religious/spiritual leaders and faith specific volunteer visitors in their ministry.

7. Provides spiritual and emotional support to staff during times of crisis, by active listening, supportive presence for spiritual enrichment, and at times conducting rituals/memorials/ debriefing for patients/residents/staff who had died

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